Picker-stick connection.



F. T. FURGAL.

PICKER STICK CONNECTIQN..

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 20, I916.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

FRANK T. FURGAL, WARREN, MASSACHUSETTS.

- PICKER-STICK CONNECTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 6, 1917.

\ App ication filed September 26, 1916. Serial No. 121,297.

I To all whom it may concern:

I for operating a pickerstick and adjusting Be it known that I, FRANK T. FURGAL', a

citizen of the United States, residing at Warren, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented'a new and useful Picker-Stick Connection, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the connections the power. t

The principal objects of the invention are to provide a construction by which the device that operates the pickerstick can be connected with it at any desired height without perforating the pickerstick or boring into it in any way, and also at the same time to strengthen the picker-stick by thesame means; to provide an improved form of buffer for engaging the edge of the pickerstick and imparting the blow thereto of such a nature that it can be formed from a used-up picker, thus greatly reducing its cost; and especially to provide one which will have a very long life in actual use.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a pickerstick with a preferred embodiment of this inventionapplied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a sectional V ew on the line 3-3- of Flg. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1, and h Figs. 5 and 6 are views of a used-up rawhide picker showing how an element of this invention can be made therefrom.

The invention is shown as applied to an and I have used in practice a pickerstick split substantially throughout its length, and have found that this device will hold it together and permit it to operate at normal speed 13 extending between them beyond the edge of the plckerstick which p'ivotally supports The two plates 11 are provided with a pin what I call the power rod 14, a metallic rod 1 by which the parts .below are supported from the clamping device 1112.

These parts below consist of the usual stick 15 and two metal plates 16 parallel with each other and 'adjustably connected with the stick 15 by a bolt; 17. These plates are also secured together at the opposite ends by a bolt 18, and the pickerstick passes freely between them. The rod 14 is connected with them by a pin .19 as will be obvious.

Surrounding the bolt 18 is a rawhide buffer 20. This is shown complete in Fig. 6, and Fig. 5 shows in dotted lines the way .in which this can conveniently be manufactured. It is taken from an old picker as 21, the usefulness of which has gone. This picker is made of rawhide and at its end has a passage therethrough for a wellknown purpose. I find that in practice two of these members 20 can be cut from this I picker, each one containing one of the original rivets 22 by which the twp sides of the picker are held in ordinary practice. In

4 this Way a member is secured which consists of a single sheet ofrawhide adapted to surround the bolt 18 and having its edges brought together and permanently united by the rivet 22. In this way the blow against the edge of the pickerstick is de-- livered by this rawhide member, and from the experience which I have had in using it I can say without reservation that such a member will ordinarily last for more than a year, whereas the devices which are ordi-. narily used for im arting this blow are of extremely short li e and have to be replaced at frequent intervals.

The parts so far described virtually constitute the entire invention, but I have shown a plate 25 of leather shaped to cover the rear edge of thepickerstick and receive the blow from the member 20. This, however, is only for the purpose of properly spacing the parts in case of adjustment by moving the bolt 17 into another pair of holes in the plates 16. I

By the use of the metallic clampin device 1 -12 the desired adjustment 0% the ower is easily secured and the pickerstick is not only not weakened thereby, but it is materially strengthened as has been pointed out. member which will last for long periods of time contrary to the usual power strap now employed, and it is so connected with the clamping device at the top and the plates 16 at the bottom the parts in any way or rattle in practice. The durability of the member 20 has been described above.

It will be seen, therefore, that the entire device is made so as to last a long time and avoid the constant repairs usually required for pickersticks and the usual connections for which these are substituted. 7

Although I have illustrated and described only a single embodiment of the invention, I am' aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any fperson skilled in the art without departing rom the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to all Furthermore, the power rod 14 mt.

that it will not bind or cramp the details of construction herein mourn and described, but what I do claim is a 1. The combination with a pickerstick, of driving means therefor comprisin a transverse bolt arranged at the bac of the pickerstick, means for operating the bolt, and a rawhide member consisting of a portion of a used picker. surroundin the bolt for delivering the blow to the e ge of the pickerstick. v

2. The combination with a pickerstick, of driving means therefor comprising a pair of plates spaced apart to receive the pickerstick between them, a bolt connecting them at the back of the pickerstick, and a rawhide member surrounding the bolt for delivering the blow to the edge of the pickerstick, said rawhide member extending around the bolt and having its edges riveted together. v I In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK T. FURGAL. 

